Longer Work Days Leave Americans Nodding Off On the Job

more than one job) are made up by an even split between men and women (49% male, 51% female). This group reports the highest rate of dissatisfaction with their sleep, with 43 percent saying that they only get a good night’s sleep a few nights per month or less. One-fifth (20%) say that daytime sleepiness interferes with their daily activities at least a few days each week and 14 percent report symptoms that put them at the most risk for insomnia. Other characteristics of those who work more than one job include:

More than one-fifth (22%) report getting less than six hours of sleep per night, with only 14 percent of this group reporting that they get 8 hours of sleep per night;

Most of this group (86%) say they just “accept it and keep going” when sleepy during the day;

23 percent of this group report using a sleep aid at least a few nights per week, interestingly the lowest percentage of all the groups;

14 percent of those who work more than one job take naps at work, the highest incidence of atwork napping among the groups;

Nearly half of those with this work schedule report using caffeine to help them cope with sleepiness, consuming an average of 2.17 cups/cans per day;

42 percent say that they have driven drowsy at least once a month in the past year;

Those in this group report the same high rate of missing leisure and work functions due to sleepiness (14%) as those who work full-time;

Interestingly, this group is the least likely to report their intimate relationships being affected by sleepiness (12%).

Additional Work Schedules

In addition to those working part-time, full-time and more than one job, many Americans are working extended workdays or doing shift work that requires them to work at unusual times of day. Following is a closer look at the reciprocal relationship between sleep and these unique work schedules.

Extended Hour Workers (More Than 50 Hours per Week) are predominantly male (70% male and 30 % female). One fifth (20%) of those who work more than